Lewis Hamilton has again talked up the need for Formula 1 to become a more physical challenge for the drivers.
As the future vision of the sport is negotiated between teams, the FIA and Liberty Media, the five-time champion has been open when it comes to suggesting what should change in 2021.
And asked that very question in Montreal on Thursday, Hamilton began by highlighting two key problems with the current F1 product.
“The fans are the reason we’re able to continue to do what we do and I see, while there’s a lot of people here, there’s some races with not a big attendance,” he claimed.
“The promotion is not always the best in some places and people do continue to comment that it’s boring because you still have a period of time where Ferrari win for a period of time, McLaren for a period, Mercedes, Red Bull… how you stop that that is definitely a part of the regulations.”
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Regardless of who is winning though, Hamilton does believe the spectacle and the perception that today’s cars are too easy needs to be addressed.
“If I had a choice, I would go back to V12, naturally aspirated engines,” he stated. “I would have a manual gearbox. I’d make it harder for the drivers and take away all these big run-off areas you have everywhere.
“You should be physically exhausted after a race, to the point it should be so exhausting like a marathon. Sometimes you do these races and you can get up – I could do two or three races in a row and Formula 1 shouldn’t be like that.
“It’s a man’s sport and a lot of youngsters come in and it’s quite easy for them to get straight into it.”
Ironically, his comments came as he was sat next to Lando Norris and Lance Stroll, two of F1’s current ‘youngsters’, and the McLaren driver was keen to stand his ground.
“I don’t know why he would say it now, and not when he first started,” the Briton said.
“It must be targeted at me, George [Russell] and Alex [Albon], because we’re the youngest in F1 and I’m not suffering perhaps as much as he thinks I should.
“I don’t think it’s intimidation, I just don’t know why he wouldn’t say it any other year. It’s much harder now than when he started in F1.
“He says he likes heavier steering. Well, he can ask his team to turn down the power steering if he wants. Like him, I think it would be cool to have manual gearboxes, too. So, I’m not sure what his reasoning is behind it.”
